Cast iron porcelain-enameled tiling



Nov. 17, 1936. C WELLS 2,061,263 l t GAST IRON PoRcELAIN-ENAMELED TILING Filed Feb. l2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l y HT Nov. 17, 1936. c. F. WELLS CAST IRON PORCELAIN-ENAMELED TILING Filed Feb. l2, 1934 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

The invention relates to tile, more particularly designed for covering interior walls.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved porcelain-enameled cast iron tile of the desired thinness and construction that it will be sufficiently light in weight so it will be usable for interior wall covering.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved porcelain-enameled cast iron tile,

1o which is reinforced to prevent warping, without excessive weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide cast iron tiles which are adapted to fit around a door or window opening over the door or win- 15 dow frame or trim as a substitute for the door or window trim.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved porcelain-enameled cast iron tiles which are provided with lugs by which the tiles 20 may be secured to a wall and which permit the tiles to be tapped into close Contact with subjacent tiles after the securing devices, such as screws or nails, have been driven into the wall to hold the tiles against it, so that the Weight of the tiles will be imposed mainly on the floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved porcelain-enameled cast iron tiles pro- .Vided with lugs which are overlapped by contiguous tiles, and in which the contacting sur- 30 faces are in the form of somewhat sharp edges on which substantially no porcelain enamel is present, so that the front faces of the tiles, when secured on a Wall, will be uniform or ush.

Other objects of the invention will appear from 35 the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

40 Fig. 1 is a perspective of a portion of a wall and door frame covered with tiles embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the wall and base-tiles;

45 Fig. 3 is a section through overlapping walltile and one of the lugs for the attaching screws;

Fig. 4 is a front perspective of one of the rectangular cast iron wall-tiles;

Fig. 5 is a back perspective of one of the rec- 50 tangular wall-tiles;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective showing the sharp contacting edges between contiguous tiles;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of one of the finishing tiles used at the top of the rectangular tiles for 55 the wall;

Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are perspectives of tiles used around a door frame;

Fig. 10 is a perspective of one of the upper corner tiles for a door frame;

Fig. 11 is a perspective of one of the base tiles; 5

Fig. l2 is a back perspective of one of the tiles used at the base of the door frame;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section on line I3-I3 of Fig. l.

In the drawings, the invention is exemplied as 1()` applied to an ordinary plaster wall a and a door frame in the Wall. A horizontal series of base tiles b covers the lower portion of the wall immediately above the floor. A series of rectangular tiles c covers the wall above and is supported 15 on the base tiles, a course of tiles c1 forms a inish for the top of wall-tiles c. A vertical series of tiles e covers each side of the door frame and laps the Wall-tiles c and d. A tile f forms the corner between the tiles e and the base-tile b. A tile g forms each corner between the uppermost tile e and the tiles h which cover the lintel of the frame. All of these tiles are formed of cast iron having their front faces porcelain-enameled.

Cast iron tiles, so far as I am aware, have never been commercially adopted for interior wall covering because, according to known methods, it was necessary to cast the tiles at least le of an inch in thickness, and the weight due to that' thickness rendered the tiles unsuitable and impracticable and of too much weight and cost for use on interior Walls. The invention contemplates casting the wall-tiles c of such thinness, for example 145 to ggf of an inch, with their front faces flat and smooth, for the application of porcelain enamel, so that they will be practicable and attractive in finish for use as interior wall covering. For this purpose the rectangular wall-tiles are made in accordance with the method set forth in an application for Letters Patent, Serial No. '711,- 40 098, filed February 14, 1934, in which a method of casting is disclosed, whereby the tiles will be cast in a sand mold with smooth even faces to receive the porcelain enamel and without warping or irregularities in the faces to which the enamel is applied. The front and back faces of the tiles are simultaneously sand-blasted to prevent the thin wall of the tile from being distorted or warped while the castings are being cleaned for the porcelain enamel. The porcelain enamel is fused on the front face of the tiles without warping them. The analysis of the iron is low in phosphorus to avoid excessive brittleness and the desired uidity is attained through the silicon element which acts as. a softener of the tile. The castings are poured at a high temperature ranging from 2700 to 2890o F. and the sulphur content is as low as possible to provide a good surface to which enamel will adhere. The porcelain enamel is sprayed on the castings and is matured at a temperature of approximately 1450o F. The sulphur content in the iron is low to prevent blows through the enamel which will leave blisters or pin holes and render the castings unsuitable.

Each wall tile c has a front wall I5 with a flat front face; a backwardly extending marginal rib or frange Iii extending substantially around the four sides thereof; a lug Il projecting from the top margin of the flange with its back face flush with the inner face of thev flange, and provided with an elongated hole I '5e through which a screw can be driven to secure the tile against a supporting wall of plaster or wood; a pair of lugs I8 projecting downwardly from the lower margin of the tile with their back faces flush with the back of the fiange Iii, to underlie a subjacent tile; and a notch or cut-away I9 in the lower member of the flange I to receive the securing lug I1 of a subjacent tile; and notches 20 in the upper member of' the flange I6 to receive the lugs I8 of a superimposed tile c. All of the lugs and rib I6 are integral with the thin front wall I5.

Each wall tile c has a slight curvature around its front edge to keep the enamel from burning through at the front corners of its front face and to extend the finish around the edges. It has an over-all depth of substantially T92 of an inch and when applied to the wall leaves a dead air space of 6/32 of an inch between the back face of the tile and the surface to which it is applied. This dead air space acts as an insulator and prevents the surface of the tile from sweating under different temperatures, and the moisture from penetrating the wall. The outer edge of each walltile c flares slightly to the back, so that when one tile sets snugly against contiguous tiles it leaves a narrow space or groove around its front for a filling of cement and still allows the weight of the tiles to be transferred to those beneath them. The screws merely hold the tiles on edge while the weight is carried by the floor. The cement used for cast iron tile is of the casein type and is applied in the grooves between the tiles after they have been placed on the wall.

A thin tapered rib 2l' is integrally formed on the back of each tile c and extends between the portions of the flange or rib Iii at the ends of the tile. This ange and rib reinforce the casting so it will not warp while it is being sand-blasted and porcelain-enameled. The castings are given a thin ground coat of enamel all over to prevent them from rusting. The taper in rib 21 serves to check the impurities in the molten metal while the tile is being cast and also serves to reduce its weight.

In porcelain-enameling the castings the front faces of the lugs are usually sprinkled with enamel because they are exposed to powder from the dredge which sprinkles the enamel on the front faces. In practice, it is usually necessary to apply several coats of enamel and it has been found that the thickness of the enamel deposited on the front faces of the lugs is not always uniform and such variation will result in unevenness in the faces of the tiles when they are secured to an ordinary wall. To prevent any irregularity or variation in the f'ront faces of the tiles when they are set against the wall at the portions where the front face overlaps the lugs of contiguous tiles, the front faces of the lugs which project under contiguous tiles have ridge-like or nearly sharp edges, from which the enamel will be burnt by the heat applied in maturing the enamel. By this means the wall covering formed of thin wall-tiles with projecting lugs overlapped by contiguous tiles, will be uniform when the tiles are secured against a wall.

The front faces of lugs I'I and I8 slope backwardly, as at 22, from an apex or comparatively sharp edge 2| to provide a formation at the points where the lugs contact with overlapping tiles, from which the enamel will be burnt during the baking of the porcelain enamel on the front faces of the tile. The marginal flange I6 in the cut-aways I9 and 20 slopes forwardly to a comparatively thin back outer edge 23 from which the ground coat of enamel applied to the back of the tile will be burnt off during the enameling process. .As a result, there will be contact between the sharp edges 2l on the lugs I'i and I8 and the sharp edges of the flange iii at the cut-aways when the tiles are set in place. Since there is no irregularity or variation in the thickness of the enamel applied to these contacting edges, the front faces of the tiles will be fiush and uniform when they are set and secured in place against a supporting wall. This formation on the flange I6 leaves sufcient reinforcement to prevent any warping of the tile at the margin during the casting and the porcelain-enameling processes. The corner portions of the flange I6 and also the central portions at the ends of the tiles are cut away to lighten the casting. The back faces of sufficient portions of the flange IS and the back faces of lugs ll and I8 are flush, to t against the supporting wall so that the front face of each tile will be parallel to the face of the wall.

The width of the notch I9 is greater than the width of the lug I'I and the width of notches 26 is greater than the lugs I8 to leave sufficient play so that in the event of an unevenness in the wall the desired symmetry of the tiles can be maintained. The slots Ile in lugs I7 are of sufficient height to permit the tiles to be tapped downwardly into close contact with subjacent tiles after they have been set in place.

At the top of the wall tiles c there is provided a course of finishing tiles c1 at the point where the wall tiling terminates. Each finishing tile c1 comprises a casting with a thin front wall it of ss-Z of an inch, or less, in thickness, curved backwardly at its top margin to form a curved top rib 4I for closing the space between the wall of the tile and the supporting wall, a marginal flange or rib 42 around the ends and bottom margin of the tile, a laterally projecting lug @3 at one end adjacent the top and adapted to lap under the wall of a laterally contiguous tile, a lug 44 with an elongated slot ma by which the tile can be secured by means of a screw or nail to the supporting wall, and downwardly projecting lugs 45 which are adapted to t into the notches or cut-aways Z of the uppermost wall-tiles c. The back faces of lugs 13, M, and l5 are flush with the back face of rib ti, so that the tile, when secured to the supporting wall, will be truly parallel to the face of the supporting wall. The front faces of the lugs d3, 64, and i5 are also bevelled backwardly from a central ridge for the purpose described in connection with the tile c. The portions of the rib l2 which overlap contiguous lugs also terminate in a comparatively sharp edge to engage the central ridges of the lugs on contiguous tiles, as described in connection with CIL the wall tiles c. These tiles ci are porcelainenameled in the same manner as the tiles c.

Each of base tiles D` is formed of cast iron and comprises a front vertical wall 30 curved outwardly at its lower margin, as at 3l, and curved inwardly at its upper margin as at 32, a backturned top ange or rib 33 integral with the front wall, end ribs 34, 34a, and a horizontal rib 35 disposed above the bottom of the tile. Lugs 36 project laterally from the back of end rib 34 to underlie a laterally contiguous tile. A lug 31 with a vertically elongated hole 31a projects laterally from the back of the rib 3ft2L to underlie a contiguous base-tile. The ribs 33, 34a are cut away to permit the lugs 36 and 31 of a contiguous tile to extend in the back thereof. A spacing lug 38 is provided on the rib 311a above lug 31. The back faces of lugs 36, 31, and 38 and the ends of the horizontal rib 35 are iiush so that the tile will fit truly in a vertical position against the supporting wall. The vertical slot 31a is adapted to receive a screw or nail to secure one end of the tile against the supporting wall, the other end being secured by the overlap between the adjacent tile and the lug 36. The front faces of lugs 36 and 31 have sharp central ridges from which the enamel will be burnt ofi as described in connection with the wall tile c. The back of the top rib 33 is spaced forwardly of the rear faces of lugs 35 and 31 to provide a space to receive the lugs i8 of the superjacent wall tiles c.

Each base tile b has a wall of' slightly greater thickness than the wall tile to adapt it to carry the load of al1 the wall tile above it. These base tiles are usually six inches long and five inches high. The bottom edge 3l is extended to produce a thickness of one and one-half inches and the top has a thickness of three-quarters of an inch. 'Ihe slots 31a in the lugs 31 are of sufficient size so that when the screw for securing them to the wall is tightened it will not lift the base-tile from the floor and so that after the screw has been tightened said tile can be tapped with a hammer handle and knocked down against the fioor and against the contiguous tile. This makes it possible to get the joint straight for the application of cement. These base-tiles are designed to replace the usual baseboard and molding around a room. It is necessary to have suicient strength to withstand the knocks from chairs, table legs and other articles which bump into the base. By providing laterally projecting lugs on the basetile, it becomes possible to remove the base without removing the superimposed wall-tile. The ribs on the back of the tile keep the casting straight and prevent it from warping during the porcelain-enameling process. The entire tile b has a ground coat of enamel and the front face has sufficient coats to provide a permanent and attractive finish.

A characteristic of the wall and base tiling illustrated and described is that the thin cast iron tiles are superimposed one upon the other and are inherently sufficiently rigid to be selfsupporting independently of the supporting wall to which they are attached. The rectangular wall-tiles c .are supported on the base tiles, and the course of finishing tiles c1 is .superimposed on the tiles c. The screws or nails serve primarily to hold the tiles against the wall rather than to carry their weight. rEhe notches in all of the tiles which receive the lugs from contiguous tiles are sucient in size to permit the weight of the tiles to be carried by the tiles beneath them. The slots for the attaching screws are sufficient to permit the tiles to be set so their Weight will be carried by the tiles beneath.

So far as I am aware, cast iron porcelainenameled tiles have never been used as a substitute for the wood trim around a door or window, and the invention exemplifies tiles for this purpose. These tiles are placed in position after the base and wall tiles have been set on the supporting wall. The wall tiles adjacent the door opening or frame t under the vertical series of tiles used to form the trim. Should any weaving of the building take place the walltiles can pull out from beneath the trim-tiles and without exposing the ends of the wall-tile. Each tile of the door trim is secured to the door frame by its individual screw which prevents any dislodgment or displacement of the tiles by shocks applied to the frame.

Cast iron porcelain-enameled tiles are provided which are to be laid around an opening in a wall, such as a door frame or window, and to be laid over and secured to the usual frame around the opening and to meet .and harmonize with the base-tile, and form an attractive finish for the frame. The tiles for the door frame comprise a lower corner base-tile f, one end of which mates with the adjacent base-tile b. Each tile f is provided with laterally projecting lugs i which are adapted to underlap the rib 35a ci the contiguous base-tile, and at its lower portion is shaped to conform with the base tile b. At its upper end tile j is curved backwardly as at 52 and comprises an upward extension 53 of reduced depth and width to mate with the vertical series of tiles e which t over the door frame. Tile f has backwardly extending ribs 54 at its sides, a cross rib 55 adjacent the bottom aligned with the'rib 35 of the base tile b, a top rib 55, and an upwardly projecting perforated lug 51, whereby the tile may be secured by means of a screw or nail to the door frame. The rib 55 in the door opening is extended to form a lug 55a to lap and fit into a recess in the side of the door frame and this lug has a hole 55b for a screw whereby the tile may be secured to the door frame.

Tiles c are arranged in vertical series against each side of the door frame. The lowest tile e mates with the upwardly extending portion 53 of the corner base-tile f. Each tile e (Fig. 9) comprises an outer rib 50, which is laid so it will be flush with the inside face of the door frame, a lower rib 6l, top rib 62, a lug 56, projecting downwardly from the rib 6l to enter a notch 55a in the rib 55 of the tile f, or a notch 65 in a subjacent tile e, .an upwardly projecting lug 63 which is adapted to enter a cut-.away 53a in the rib 6I of the superjacent tile e and which is perforated so the tile can be secured by means of a screw to the door frame, and a notch or cut-away 6i to receive the lug 13 of a superjacent tile. The inner side of each tile e has a rib 65 of less depth than the rib 69 to permit the wall tile to extend under the door frame and form a finish between the two as shown in Fig. 13. The back face of rib 6G, and perforated lug 63 and lug 66 are fiush to position the tile against the door frame. The tiles e1 (Fig. 8) above the point where the finishing wall-tiles c terminate are provided with inner and outer ribs 65a of equal depth, a bottom rib 1I and a top rib 12 of the same depth. Each of these tiles e1 is formed with a pair of downwardly projecting lugs 13 .adapted to enter the cut-aways 81 in the top of a subjacent tile e1 or cut-away 64 and in backr of a narrow por-tion. of rib 62 of a subjacent tile e, and with a cut-away 14 to receive lug 13 of a tile el or the lug 63 of a tile e. The perforated lug 73 has a hole 'l5 whereby it may be secured to the door frame. Each corner of the frame is covered by an elbow tile g which is provided with afcomplete marginal back-turned rib or flange 80 a pair of lugs 3i extending downwardly to fit into the notches B1 of the uppermost tile el, a laterally projecting perforated lug 82 adapted to extend under one of the horizontal tiles h, cut-aways or notches 83 to receive lugs 8| of the laterally adjacent tile h, and a cut-away 84 toreceive the lug 'l5 of the subjacent tile e1. Tiles h are similar in construction to the tiles el. The front faces of the lugs on all of the tiles around the door-opening have central sharp edges as described in connection with the lugs on the Wall-tiles, so the enamel will be burnt off therefrom at the points where they contact with overlapping tiles. The front and side faces of the tiles f, e, el, g, and h` .are porcelainenameled, to provide a permanent and attractive nish for the trim around a door. They may, if desired, be of different color or shade from the wall tile to produce the desired ornamental effect.

rIhe door-frame tiles are also supported from the base tiles except across the top of the door frame. The cutting away of the outer sides of the tiles of vertical series of the door frame to receive the Wall-tile makes it possible to produce a well-appearing finish between the tiles on the door frame and the wall. The base corner tile forms a finish between the base tiles and the vertical tiles on the door frame.

The invention exemplifies a cast iron porcelain-enameled tiling in which each wall-tile has its fro-nt wall of such thinness that it is well adapted for interior wall covering; in which the tiles are reinforced by a marginal rib or flange.

and a central rib which make it possible to provide these tiles so they will be light in Weight; in which the lugs which project from the margin of the til'e to underlie contiguous tile are shaped so there will be no accumulation of enamel during the ring process, which prevents variation in the spacing of the tiles from the supporting wall and causes the front faces of the tiles to be flush; in which the cut-aways for the underlying lugs are of suicient length to permit the tiles to be tapped snugly in symmetrical positions; in which the wall-tiles are held against a supporting wall and superimposed so their weight will be carried by the series of porcelain-enameled cast iron base-tile; in which the trim for a door or window is built up of cast iron porcelain-enameled tile; in which the trim tiles are formed to permit the wall-tiles to extend under them and prevent gaps in the event of a settling or Weaving of the wall tile; in which the trim tile is made` to mate and harmonize with the base-tile by a corner tile at the base of the trim tile; in which the base tiles are formed of castings and of sufficient strength to prevent breakage or injury by the blows to which such tiles are frequently subjected; and which makes it practicable to use cast iron porcelain-enameled tiling as a covering for interior Walls and door and window trim.

The invention is not to be understod as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a substantially rectangular cast iron tile having a front wall of @Le of an inch, or less, in thickness, with a substantially flat front face coated with porcelain enamel fused to the cast iron, and having a marginal integral flange at its back of decreasing thickness from front to back, and integral lugs projecting outwardly from the back of the flange for underlying similar contiguous tiles, the flange having notches cast therein wider than said lugs to receive similar lugs projecting from a contiguous tile, one of the lugs having a hole for a securing device, the integral flange extending across the notches and being'of decreased thickness from front to back and terminating substantially approximately at a sharp edge at the back.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a substantially rectangular cast iron tile having a front wall of 53a of an inch, or less, in thickness, with a substantially flat front face coated with porcelain enamel fused to the cast iron, and having a marginal integral flange at its back of decreasing thickness from front to back and extending around all sides, and integral lugs projecting outwardly from the back of the flange for underlying similar contiguous tiles, the ilange having notches cast therein Wider than the lugs to receive similar lugs projecting from a contignous tile, one of the lugs being perforated for e. securing device, the integral ilange extending across the notches and being of decreased thickness from front to back and terminating substantially approximately at a sharp edge at the back.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a substantially rectangular cast iron tile having a front Wall of 33-2 of an inch, or less, in thickness, with a substantially flat front face coated with porcelain enamel fused to the cast iron, and having a marginal integral flange at all sides of its back of decreasing thickness from front toback and its outer side-faces flared backwardly, and integral lugs projecting outwardly from the back of the flange for underlying similar contiguous tiles, the flange having notches cast therein wider than said lugs to receive similar lugs projecting from a contiguous tile, one of the lugs having a y hole for a securing device.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a substantially rectangular cast iron tile having a front wall of 33-2 of an inch, or less, in thickness, with a substantially flat front face coated with porcelain enamel fused to the cast iron and having a marginal integral flange at its back, integral lugs projecting outwardly from the back of the flange to underlie contiguous tiles, and an integral central rib of less fore and aft thickness than the depth of the flange extending across the back face of the tile and between the side portions of the marginal flange, the flange having notches cast therein to receive similar lugs projecting from contiguo-us tiles, one of the lugs having a hole for a securing device.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a substantially rectangular cast iron, tile having a front wall of of an inch, or less, in thickness, with a substantially flat front face coated with porcelain enamel fused to the cast iron and having a marginal integral flange at its back, integral lugs projecting outwardly fro-m the back of the flange to underlie contiguous tiles and an integral central rib of less fore and aft thickness than the depth of the flange extending across the back face of the tile and tapered between the side portions of the marginal iiange, the iiange having notches cast therein to receive similar lugs projecting fro-m contiguous tiles, one of the lugs having a hole for a securing device.

I6. As a new article of manufacture, a substantially rectangular cast iron tile having a front wall of of an inch, or less, in thickness, with a substantially iiat front face coated with porcelain enamel fused to the cast iron and having a marginal integral flange at all sides of its back, integral lugs projecting outwardly from the back of the iiange to underlie contiguous tiles, the iiange having notches cast therein to receive similar lugs projecting from a contiguous tile and at its corners, and having portions with their back faces ush on all sides of the tile, one of the lugs having a hole for a securing device.

7. As a new article of manufacture a cast iron tile having a front wall with its front face coated with porcelain enamel fused to the cast iron and having integral lugs projecting outwardly from its margins for underlying similar contiguous tile having front faces with sharp edges to contact with the contiguous tiles, and marginal cutaways to receive similar projecting lugs from a contiguous tile.

8. As a new article of manufacture a cast iron tile having a front wall with its front face coated with porcelain enamel fused to the cast iron and having integral lugs projecting outwardly from its margin for underlying similar contiguous tile, and cut-aways to receive similar projecting lugs from a contiguous tile, the front faces of the lugs and the portions of the cut-aways with which the lugs of contiguous tile contact having sharp edges.

9. As a new article of manufacture a cast iron tile having a front wall with its front face coated with porcelain enamel fused to the cast iron and having integral lugs projecting outwardly from its margins for underlying similar contiguous tile, and cut-aways to receive similar projecting lugs from a contiguous tile, the front faces of the lugs and the portions of the cut-aways with which the lugs of contiguous tiles contact having sharp edges which are relatively free from enamel, one of the lugs having a hole therein through which a device may be driven to secure the tile to a wall.

10. The combination with a series of cast iron base tiles formed to nt against a wall and to be supported on the floor and having their front faces porcelain-enameled, and a series of substantially rectangular thin cast iron superimposed abutting wall-tiles having their front faces porcelain-enameled, adapted to cover the Wall above the base-tile and having marginal flanges to space their front walls from the supporting wall, the lower course of the wall-tiles being free to abut and be supported by the base-tiles, integral lugs on the base and the wall-tiles to underlap contiguous tiles, one of the lugs of each of the tiles having a hole vertically elongated, means extending through the holes for holding them against the wall and in such manner that the wall tiles will be free to be supported vertically by the base-tiles and by one another.

i1. The combination with a series of cast iron base-tiles formed to iit against a wall and to be supported on the floor and having their front faces porcelain-enameled, and a series of substantially rectangular thin superimposed abutting cast iron wall-tiles having their front faces porcelain enameled, yadapted to cover the wall above -the base-tile and having marginal flanges to space their front walls from the supporting wall, the lower course of the wall-tiles being free to rest on and be supported by the base tiles, a

course of thin iinishing tiles having their lower margins abutting and supported by the wall-tile andA their upper margins curved backwardly, integral lugs on the base wall and finishing tiles to underlap contiguous tiles, one of the lugs of each of the tiles having a vertically elongated hole, means extending through the holes for holding them against the wall and in such manner that the finishing and Wall-tiles will be free to be supported vertically by the base-tiles and by one another.

12. The combination of a series of thin cast iron porcelain-enameled wall-tiles, a series of cast iron porcelain-enameled substantially rectangular tiles to fit over a frame around an opening in a wall, having their sides curved backwardly, substantially straight ends with end-ribs on the back thereof, lugs projecting from the backs of the ribs to underlap contiguous tiles, said ends having notches cast therein to receive lugs of contiguous tiles, one of said lugs being provided with an opening through which a fastening device can be driven to secure the tile to the frame, the ends of the wall-tiles adjacent the frame being extended under one side of the tiles on the frame, one side of the frame-tiles being notched to t over and receive the end portions of the wall-tiles.

13. The combination of a series of thin cast iron porcelain-enameled wall tiles, porcelainenameled cast iron finishing tiles on top of the wall-tiles, and a series of cast iron porcelainenameled substantially rectangular tiles to fit over a frame around an opening in a wall, having their sides curved backwardly and substantially straight mating ends with end-ribs on the back thereof, lugs projecting from the back of the ribs to underlap contiguous tiles, said ends having cut-aways to receive lugs of contiguous tiles, one of said lugs being provided with an opening through which a fastening device can be driven to secure the tile to the frame, the ends of the wall-tiles and finishing tiles adjacent the frame being extended under one side of the tiles on the frame, the side of the frame tiles adjacent the wall and iinishing tiles being notched to iit over and receive the end portions of the wall and finishing tiles.

14. The combination of a series of cast iron porcelain-enameled substantially rectangular base-tiles, each having a backwardly extending marginal flange at the top and sides, lugs projecting laterally at the back from the sides to underlie mating tiles, the side flanges having notches cast therein to receive the lugs on mating tiles, one lug being provided with a vertically elongated hole through which an attaching device can be driven to secure the tiles to a wall, the upper margin of the tile being curved backwardly and the lower margin being extended orwardly, and a series of thin cast iron porcelain-enameled substantially rectangular wall tiles having lugs adapted to extend in the back of the flange at the top of the base tiles, and fitting on and abutting the top of the base tiles.

15. The combination of a series of cast iron porcelain-enameled substantially rectangular base-tiles, each having a backwardly extending marginal ilange at the top and sides, lugs projecting laterally at the back and from the sides to underlie mating tiles, the side flanges having notches cast therein to receive the lugs on mating tiles, one lug being provided with a Vertically elongated hole through which an attaching device can be driven to secure the tiles to a wall, the upper margin of the tile being curved backwardly and the lower margin being curved forwardly, and an integral rib above the lower margin and between the sides, and a series of thin cast iron porcelain-enameled substantially rectangular wall-tiles having lugs adapted to extend in the back of the ange at the` top of enameled corner tile at the base of the trim hav ing an extension abutting the base-tiles and an extension abutting the trim-tiles.

CLAYTON F. WELLS. 

